DSI UNDERGROUND DSI Underground has a long history of improving underground safety with reliable ground support and reinforcement products.
For a safer underground Working underground can pose a range of hazards. Sandvik’s recent acquisition of DSI Underground will further drive safety in underground mining and tunnelling. TEXT: ULF WIMAN PHOTO: DSI UNDERGROUND
GIVEN THE INHERENTLY hazardous
▲
36 SOLID GROUND 2-21 SANDVIK MINING AND ROCK SOLUTIONS
ground support and reinforcement products, systems and solutions. Working closely with customers is part of the strategy. DSI Underground’s technical engineering design team assists customers with Derek Hird new or non-standard products, and with 22 manufacturing plants around the world, the company can rapidly adapt products to individual needs. “SAFE AND RELIABLE ground
support products and services are essential for the mining and tunnelling industries,” says Derek Hird, regional CEO for the APAC region. “DSI Underground’s products are critical to productivity and a safe working environment by supporting the roof underground.” DSI Underground has a long history of focusing on technical innovation. “We have a long pipeline of technical developments, ranging from product enhancements through to next-generation products, such as self-drilling
▲
underground environment, keeping miners and tunnelling workers safe has always been a top priority for the industry. Despite mining and construction companies implementing systems and processes to support a Zero Harm approach, incidents and injuries still occur. A couple of megatrends drive the further development of underground safety. There is an accelerating shift from open-cut mining to underground mining. This is partly due to depleting deposits and because open-cut mining is coming under more scrutiny and finding less public acceptance. At the same time, existing underground mines need to go deeper to find new ores. In tunnelling, the construction of mega tunnels in major cities worldwide will continue to increase, and much tunnelling will occur in challenging ground conditions. Sandvik announced in December 2020 that it would acquire DSI Underground, a full-service provider to the underground excavation process with a focus on safety. The company provides a wide range of
